On Tue, 15 May 2001, Sandy Sandfort wrote:
> A consequence of cops enforcing the law is that they may have to chase law
> breakers. The natural consequence that is that is danger to third parties.
> Assuming that the cop's actions, under the circumstances, was reasonable,
> who should bear the responsibility for injuries and property damage that
> resulted from the chase?
Whomever directly causes the damage. Simply saying 'they made me do it'
isn't sufficient (even for cops). As in your example (which I cut out) if
the cops shoot your partner in crime, that's the end of it. To charge you
for it assumes that you're responsible for their actions. If so, then
somebody else is responsible for my actions.
There is a line where the danger the police put the innocent bystander in
is not worth the effort of apprehending the law breaker.
A police officer who partakes in a high speed chase in a neighborhood
where there is high traffic is a bigger threat than the person running the
red light. Why? Because their chase is going to perpetrate many more such
incidents, something letting the law breaker go would not do.
Putting on a badge does not decrease responsibility, it increases it.
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